Fluid coupling



Aug. 22, 1944. H. c. swlFT FLUID COUPLING Filed May 28. 1941 INVENT OR. l/oerzr CT SW/rr A TTOE/VE V Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid couplings, and more particularly to anti-creep devices therefor.

Broadly the invention comprehends a fluid coupling including an impeller, a runner associated therewith, and means effective for inhibiting drag on the runner when it is static and the impeller rotating at idling speed.

An object of the invention is to provide a fluid coupling including an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction therewith a fluid circuit, and means effective when the impeller is idling to inhibit transmission of energy of the fluid to the runner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid coupling including an impeller and a runner providing a fluid circuit, and means providing for the free passage of fluid between the exit of the impeller and the entrance of the runner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fluid coupling including an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit automatically controlled by means actuated by We resulting from rotation of the fluid coupling.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fluid coupling including an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, blades on the impeller and runner, the exit edges of the blades on the impeller being spaced from the entrance edges of the blades on the runner during idling speed of the impeller, and means on the impeller actuated by centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the impeller effective to establish the blade exits of the impeller adjacent the entrance edges of the runner blades.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, broken away, illustrating a fluid coupling embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the impeller housing illustrating the impeller blade support;

Fig. 3 is a side and front elevation of the impeller blade; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the spring retaining means for the centrifugally actuated impeller blades.

Referring to the drawing for more specific details of the invention, ill represents generally a fluid coupling including an impeller indicated generally at I2 and a runner 14. The impeller I2 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a driving shaft iii of a suitable source of power, not

shown, and the runner I4 is suitably secured to a driven shaft l8.

The impeller l2 includes a web 20, and a flange 22 on the web has suitably secured thereto a housing element 24 supporting a suitable sealing means 26 on the driven shaft Ill. The runner member i4 is housed within the housing 24 and includes a web 28 supporting blades 30.

The particular blade structure of the impeller employed in this fluid coupling is of the essence of the invention. The blade includes a blade support 32 and pivotally secured to the support is a blade element 34. The blade element 34 includes a hub section 36, and a body portion 38 folded upon itself to provide corresponding sides 40 and 42 is adapted to enshroud the support 32. The support 32 is provided with end portions 44 and 46 adapted to function as respective stops for the blade element 34 when the impeller is either idling or rotating at increased speed. Interposed between the end 46 of the support 32 and the inner portion of the blade element 34 is a leaf spring 48 for resisting outward movement of the element. The spring 48 includes a hub section 50 adapted to be secured on the support 32 and a leaf spring section 52.

In a normal operation, assuming that the housing 24 constituting the reservoir is fllled to its normal capacity with a suitable fluid, upon initial actuation or rotation of the impeller and housing by force received from the driving shaft l2, the fluid in the housing is energized by the impeller and by centrifugal force as a result of rotation of the housing. The blades of the impeller thus energizing the fluid at idling speed of the fluid coupling pass the fluid between the impeller and the runner with the consequent result that the runner does not receive the energized fluid and remains static.

Upon increase in speed of the impeller the resistance of the springs 48 is overcome, due to the centrifugal force acting on the :blades 34 of the impeller, with the result that the blades come into play to energize the fluid adjacent the runner. The fluid thus energized is received by the blades 30 on the runner resulting in the rotation thereof. When the speed of rotation of the coupling decreases, as when approaching a stop, the blades 34 are moved to retracted position under the influence of springs 48 and the fluid is once again passed between the blades of the impeller and runner. Thereafter, the runner remains static, and the impeller rotating at idling speed does not impose an objectionable drag on the runner since the fluid is diverted from its normal operative circuit.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptibl of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid coupling comprising an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, blades on the impeller and runner, and means fixed to the impeller interiorly of the respective impeller blades providing resistance in one direction of movement of the blades and stops for limiting the distance of movement thereof, said blades on the impeller being pivotal centrally of the circuit and operative due to centrifugal force resulting from the speed of rotation of the impeller to increase the effective operating radius of the impeller.

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2. A fluid coupling comprising an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, blades on the impeller and runner providing radial channels, said blades on the impeller defining walls of the channels movable radially under the influence of centrifugal force to juxtaposition the channels of the impeller with those of the runner during high speeds of rotation of the impeller, and means inside of the impeller blades limiting radial movement in both directions.

3. A fluid coupling comprising an impeller and a runner providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, and blades on the impeller and runner, an annular passage between the impeller and nmner, said blades on the impeller movable directly under the influence of centrifugal force to channel the passage so as to direct the course of fluid flow from the impeller to the runner, and spring means within each blad of the impeller for normally retaining the blade in a radial inward position.

HARVEY C. SWIFT. 

